Supreme Court Unsatisfied With FSSAI, Asks It To Consider Front-of-Pack Labels Warning Of High Sugar, Fat & Sodium In Food

The Supreme Court recently expressed dissatisfaction with the compliance affidavit filed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in a public interest litigation seeking mandatory front-of-package warning labels on packaged food products.A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing a miscellaneous application in a PIL filed by 3S and Our Health Society, which had sought directions to the Union of India to introduce clear front-of-package warning labels indicating levels of sugar, salt and saturated fats in packaged foods.The main writ petition was disposed of on April 9, 2025, after the Court was informed that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had already initiated steps towards implementing Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling through proposed amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020.At that stage, the Court had directed the Expert Committee constituted by FSSAI to prepare its recommendations and submit a report within three months, so that necessary amendments could be effected. The matter was directed to be listed thereafter to report compliance.During the present hearing, the Bench examined the compliance affidavit dated January 30, 2026, filed by Dr. Kavitha Ramasamy, Joint Director, FSSAI.According to the affidavit, the Expert Committee had observed that there was no consensus among stakeholders regarding the proposed Indian Nutrition Rating model notified in 2022. The Committee noted concerns about the applicability of the algorithm used for star ratings and stated that feasibility could not be pre-emptively determined without operationalising the model.The affidavit also referred to the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Amendment Regulations, 2025, notified in February 2025, which proposed, inter alia, requirements relating to nutrition information in bold letters. However, it was stated that the matter was deferred by the Food Authority in its 49th meeting held on November 24, 2025, and would be placed before an upcoming meeting.Further, FSSAI indicated that it intends to conduct additional research, undertake systematic mapping of packaged foods across categories, carry out consumer surveys on label usage, review global trends in front-of-pack nutrition labelling and hold wider consultations with stakeholders, including small and medium enterprises, before taking further steps.The Court, however, observed that prima facie the exercise undertaken so far had not yielded any positive or concrete result. It noted that the PIL raised an important issue concerning the right to health of citizens.The Bench also recorded the petitioner's suggestion that pre-packaged food products should carry a warning in the form of front-of-package labelling on the wrapper or packet itself, adding that such labelling is internationally prevalent.“Prima-facie, we are of the view that whatever exercise has been undertaken so far has not yielded any positive or good result.The PIL was filed with a particular purpose. It raised an important issue as regards the right to health of the citizens of this country.Today, what has been suggested by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also makes some sense and we want the authority to take this aspect into consideration.”The petitioner's suggestion is illustrated below :Directing the authority to take this aspect into consideration, the Court granted four weeks' time for a fresh response and listed the matter for further hearing thereafter.Appearance: AoR Rajiv Shankar Dvivedi for petitioner; ASG Brijender Chahar for UnionCase Title: 3S and Our Health Society v. Union of IndiaClick here to read the order

Supreme Court Unsatisfied With FSSAI, Asks It To Consider Front-of-Pack Labels Warning Of High Sugar, Fat & Sodium In Food

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Front of Package Labelling is something which is internationally prevalent, the Court said.

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